Gaspard ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution, fined $2,500, LDWF says
Two Avoyelles Parish men’s plan to cut down more than 100 trees to block others from accessing their preferred hunting area on Spring Bayou Wildlife Management turned out to be a pretty expensive undertaking.
Last week, Judge William Bennett sentenced the second man in connection with the tree-cutting — Allen Gaspard, 62, of Marksville — to serve two years in jail suspended, pay $20,000 in civil restitution to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, $400 in court costs and $250 for the criminal court fund. Gaspard was also given five years of probation during which time he will not be allowed on any WMA and not allowed to possess recreational hunting or fishing licenses, according to a news release.
Earlier this spring, Keith Savoy, 49, of Hessmer was sentenced to serve two years in jail suspended, pay $15,000 in civil restitution to LDWF, a $2,500 fine, $750 for the cost of prosecution and $400 in court costs. Savoy was also given five years of probation during which time he will not be allowed on any WMA and not allowed to possess recreational hunting or fishing licenses.
Savoy and Gaspard cut down more than 100 trees in December of 2014 in the northeast corner of Spring Bayou WMA to block navigable access to an area known as “The Fields” where they hunted. The trees Savoy and Gaspard cut down ranged from 10 inches to 30 inches in diameter and stood up to 50 foot tall, including cypresses, oaks and willows, according to the release.
Avoyelles District Attorney Charles Riddle and Assistant District Attorney Tony Salario prosecuted the cases, the release states.
